(a comment on the blunt side of things, be warned) why oh why would DT commit himself to 27.5 or 29 only in that manner? It makes zero sense, while keeping the bases covered in all camps does. Killing a 5.incher swiss army knife and replacing it with a 160mm bike a tad bit more capable bike with far less mass appeal would be downright stupid imo. DT is known for many things, stupidity not being one of em.

DT was a smart guy,
He discontinued the RFX to give way to 5spot
He discontinued the Flux to give way to the Czar
He will discontinue the 5spot to give way to the Burner,
He will eventually reborn the RFX to start the cycle,
Purely speculation here :-)

5inch trail bikes are the bread and butter of most mtb manufacturers. It's where the numbers are seen - not in the dh department nor in hardtail scheme of things for most manufacturers, but as do it all bikes for the weekend warriors.

Killing the spot, a 26er, and instead going all in in the 27.5/29 camp only makes sense if the spot sees a steady decline in sales - as did the Flux. If the Flux had had strong figures it would've made sense to keep both it and the Czar to be able to cater to different segments of the market - but alas it didn't, so it was left behind for now.

The RFX was not dropped to facilitate for the 5 Spot. The Spot was always there - it just got updated with DW link while the RFX would've ended up so expensive that DT probably wisely decided to pull the plug - instead of getting another Highline debacle on his hands. Instead the Spot was made slighly more capable of more progressive riding with revised geo and kinematics and the rest is history.

I might be wrong and i'm biased as well being a 12 Spot owner - but as mentioned above, killing the Spot to force people over to the Burner isn't the way to go imo. In spite of 27.5 and 29 being the items that are hyped at present - and healthily at that - 26ers still got a healthy following. 27.5 isn't the end all be all for now. Killing 206ers as an option does not make sense, at al,l imho. The Burner and 5 Spot compliment each other, but they are not direct competitors. If you want to upgrade your old Spot, but want to keep most of the parts - let's face it, Turners aren't cheap - buying a Burner essentially is buying a brand new bike. It's not like Turner Bikes only can have 4 bikes on their pallate.

anyway - time will tell. In a few years time, 26ers might be the niche market 27.5 bikes are today, but as it is - Turners already are, niche that is.

I don't believe the 5 spot will die. If you listen to a number Dave's interviews one thing that he tries to do is use frame components across lines as much as possible as well as reduce tooling. This is something that I believe he does extensively between the Spot and Burner.

Sales figures don’t lie. And in your neck of the woods 26ers are following the way of the dodo. Bluesky have started selling the Spot at 33% discounted.

The majority of sales in the UK are still current 26ers from what I can see on the trails, but with all of the 650b and long travel 29er coming out, I think I’m gonna have to try the cool-aid next time. (Talking about 650b that is. Don’t think I’d like the cornering on a 29er).

Sales figures don’t lie. And in your neck of the woods 26ers are following the way of the dodo. Bluesky have started selling the Spot at 33%

Respect Homers
deanopatoni

Uhh Blue sky did that same thing 2 years ago before the Spot with the thru axle rear end came out. That means little. I don't see sales numbers which would give the answer. I think there is another carbon bike in the mix. Spot, DHR, Burner or RFX? My gut tells me DHR but Spot would make sense too.

I don't see the Spot being the next carbon bike based on market trends. Have you tried to unload a used Carbon Blur or Blur TRC lately? Almost impossible. I think a Burner in Carbon is really the smartest move. At this point, it makes sense to do a 650b RFX in carbon over a 26 inch iteration.

Here in Europe these things change slowly. Last summer on a holiday in the French speaking part of Switzerland a friend needed a 29" tire and went to a well assorted store to buy it. He got it. The owner took one of his new bikes with the remark that he would order a new tire for that bike.

It will still take a while before those new wheel sizes are really there.

Uhh Blue sky did that same thing 2 years ago before the Spot with the thru axle rear end came out. That means little. I don't see sales numbers which would give the answer. I think there is another carbon bike in the mix. Spot, DHR, Burner or RFX? My gut tells me DHR but Spot would make sense too.

Bob

The buying public is fickle. They will happily pay more for a carbon bike made overseas, that cost less to make than an aluminum bike made in the USA. Give the people what they want and live to fight another day...

I'm not quite ready to blow taps for the 5 Spot. It is something of a brand within the brand. Even if fads, er, trends, do away with the twennie sixer, 5 Spot should christen one of the horses in the Turner stable. JMO.

The buying public is fickle. They will happily pay more for a carbon bike made overseas, that cost less to make than an aluminum bike made in the USA. Give the people what they want and live to fight another day...

I don't see the Spot being the next carbon bike based on market trends. Have you tried to unload a used Carbon Blur or Blur TRC lately? Almost impossible. I think a Burner in Carbon is really the smartest move. At this point, it makes sense to do a 650b RFX in carbon over a 26 inch iteration.

Seems reasonable but an overlap for sure. Two 650b bikes in a small brand? Seems tough to swallow. Carbon RFX or Carbon DHR are more differentiated.

No it's not "official", if there are orders DT will make more and the distributor says they are considering an order, they still have stock, the tooling is still available, but it does sound like any further updates to the 5spot will not use 26" wheels, so technically the Burner is the new 5 Spot or RFX in my case

Will there be a 26in carbon 5Spot. “Never” says DT (apparently)

Take Turner for example. He just showed his new 29in carbon bike, the Czar. He also had his staple bikes like the 5Spot (26in) and the Sultan (29in) and the Burner (27.5in). Will there be a 26in carbon 5Spot. “Never” apparently. Even if he’d been considering it, to come out with a new 26in model at a time when everyone is promoting 27.5in (and clearing out their 26in models) would be suicide.

Ripley is at the top of the list right now but I've heard SC is releasing a 650b Blur TRc type bike which would be exactly what I'm looking for.

Make sure you give the Ripley a thourogh demo. I was very happy to get back on my spot after a good 3 hour ride with the Ripley(140mm fork too). The rear end just isn't as plush and though really maneuverable for a 29er it's still more fun to throw the spot around, especially in the tighter stuff. IMHO.

Make sure you give the Ripley a thourogh demo. I was very happy to get back on my spot after a good 3 hour ride with the Ripley(140mm fork too). The rear end just isn't as plush and though really maneuverable for a 29er it's still more fun to throw the spot around, especially in the tighter stuff. IMHO.

Make sure you give the Ripley a thourogh demo. I was very happy to get back on my spot after a good 3 hour ride with the Ripley(140mm fork too). The rear end just isn't as plush and though really maneuverable for a 29er it's still more fun to throw the spot around, especially in the tighter stuff. IMHO.

Yeah, moose1 rear plushness is a little concern but I think the geo and shock tune can make up for some of that. I got to putt around a RIP9 RDO on Saturday. That's one fine machine. It's down to three bikes for me: SC Solo, Rip9 RDO, Ripley. I think the RIP might be the best all arounder. I imagine the Solo would be stupid fast and a ton of fun but there might be some sacrifice in the bigger rocks, which I enjoy. Decisions, decisions.

Deano,are you after another spot?ii've just got a burner but can't ride it due to an injured shoulder & of to France at the end of the month I hope!

If a 2012 Spot came up at closeout prices I'd be keen although my 2010 is still going strong. The 650B thing is inevitable but I'm still waiting to see what else comes out from Turner on this front.

Good luck with the shoulder. I broke my clavicle in March 2010 and rode PPDS the same year.
Hope you have a good ride this year. I should be there next year/ or doing the Mt Blanc loop (undecided at this point).

If a 2012 Spot came up at closeout prices I'd be keen although my 2010 is still going strong. The 650B thing is inevitable but I'm still waiting to see what else comes out from Turner on this front.

Good luck with the shoulder. I broke my clavicle in March 2010 and rode PPDS the same year.
Hope you have a good ride this year. I should be there next year/ or doing the Mt Blanc loop (undecided at this point).

There should be another release shortly going by this interview in 2011...

"We’ve been working on one model for 14 months now, and we’re starting the next one right after Christmas. Both will be all new models, not replicas of current bikes, so hopefully they play well with their siblings."

There should be another release shortly going by this interview in 2011...

"We’ve been working on one model for 14 months now, and we’re starting the next one right after Christmas. Both will be all new models, not replicas of current bikes, so hopefully they play well with their siblings."

This is a very interesting quote - as it was from Dec 2011 and the fact that carbon took a while to get designed and dialed - I reckon DT was talking about the Czar being the one they had been working on for 14 months and Burner being the bike that they where planning to start after Christmas 2011.

Also as for the DHR currently also being on sale, IMHO speculation for Turners next offering could be pointing towards a carbon DHR (??)

By vote is for a Turner 5 Spot carbon, would make the most sense from where Dave viewed the market 2 years ago, do not believe he would see the end of the 26 wheel , rightly so in my view, still think its a fad.

There should be another release shortly going by this interview in 2011...

"We’ve been working on one model for 14 months now, and we’re starting the next one right after Christmas. Both will be all new models, not replicas of current bikes, so hopefully they play well with their siblings."

By vote is for a Turner 5 Spot carbon, would make the most sense from where Dave viewed the market 2 years ago, do not believe he would see the end of the 26 wheel , rightly so in my view, still think its a fad.

I would have to agree. At the Santa Cruz demo I rode the Bronson and TBLTc. I walked away very impressed with my Nomadc. For me personally, 27.5 is not as snappy and playful as 26 and doesn't have the roll over/momentum of the 29" wheels. Sort of a boring middle road.